The practice of early childhood education is the planning and delivery of inclusive play-based learning and care programs for children in order to promote the well-being and holistic development of children, and includes:

(a) the delivery of programs to children 12 years or younger;

(b) the assessment of the programs and of the progress of children in the programs;

(c) communication with the parents or persons with legal custody of the children in the programs in order to improve the development of the children; and

(d) such other services or activities as may be prescribed by the regulations.​

3. Individual who represents or holds out (expressly or by implication) that the person is a member of the College.

4. Individual who is required to be a member of the College under the Child Care and Early Years Act.

​Summary of Membership Requirements

Required to become a member

Individual using the title “early childhood educator” (ECE), or “registered early childhood educator” (RECE). ​

​Individual with a diploma in early childhood education or equivalent who is employed in licensed child care under the Child Care and Early Years Act.

Resource teachers who meet the registration requirements of the College and work within the defined scope of practice.

Home visitors employed by licensed home child care agencies to visit and monitor homes providing licensed home child care (unless otherwise approved by a director of the Ministry of Education).

Independent home child care providers who meet the registration requirements of the College and work within the defined scope of practice.

​​​​​​​​​​​Individual who represents or holds out (expressly or by implication) that the person is a member of the College (e.g. if a member of the public would assume, in the circumstances, that the person is a member of the College).​

​Who is not required to be a member of the College of Early Childhood Educators?

A person who is in one of the categories below is not required to join the College unless the person meets the educational and training requirements for registration with the College, in which case the person must join the College.

1.A person employed as a teacher or teaching assistant in a school (as defined in the Education Act).1​

2.A person who, under the authority of a letter of permission, is appointed by a board (as defined in the Education Act) to a position requiring an early childhood educator.1

3.A person employed in a child care centre who is approved by a director appointed under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) to work in the place of an early childhood educator.1

4.A person employed in a child care centre who, under the CCEYA and its regulations, is not required to be a registered early childhood educator (e.g. an apprentice or an early childhood assistant).1

5.A person employed by a home child care agency as a home child care visitor and approved by a director appointed under the CCEYA.1

6.A person employed as a resource teacher in a child care centre or by a home child care agency who is approved by a director appointed under the CCEYA.1

9.A person who provides unlicensed child care for five children or less and as described in the CCEYA.1,4

As set out above under “Who is required to become a member of the College of Early Childhood Educators” any person who uses one of the protected titles “early childhood educator” (ECE) or “registered early childhood educator” (RECE) or their French equivalents any person who represents or holds out (expressly or by implication) that the person is a member of the College, must be a member of the College.

What are the implications if an individual who is required to register does not register with the College?

The Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007 provides steps that the College can take against an individual for not registering. If an individual does not comply with the Act, its regulations or by-laws of the College, the College may seek a court order directing the person to comply. If a person who is not a member of the College uses the title “early childhood educator” (ECE) or “registered early childhood educator” (RECE), or represents or holds out (expressly or by implication) that the person is a member, or works within the scope of practice (unless there is an applicable exemption), the College can prosecute the person under the Provincial Offences Act. This may result in a finding of guilty in court and liability for a fine of not more than $5,000 for the first offence and not more than $10,000 for a subsequent offence.

Further information​

If you are interested in learning more about the College's registration requirements, please visit Registr​ation FAQs.

[1]Please note that a
person who meets the educational and training requirements for registration
with the College is required to join the College.

[2]“Home child care” – The criteria for home child care include, among
other things, where child care is provided and a licensed home child care
agency provides oversight of the care provided. Home child care may be called
licensed home-based child care.

[3]“In-home
services” – The criteria for in-home services include, among other things, where
child care is provided for a child at his or her home, a licensed home child
care agency provides oversight of the care provided and financial assistance is
provided under the CCEYA for the child care (see s. 6(3)3 of CCEYA).

[4]“Unlicensed
child care” – The criteria for unlicensed child care include, among other
things, that the child care is provided for no more than five children and
there is no agreement with a home child care agency to provide oversight of the
care provided (see . 6(3)2 of CCEYA).
Unlicensed child care may be called unlicensed home-based child care.​

* The College of Early Childhood Educators provides information and communication in an accessible manner when requested. If you require an accessible format and/or communication support, please contact a College staff member or the College at
1 888 961-8558 info@college-ece.ca
.